Since invitations were sent out about a month ago, some 20 woodsy events have been proposed during the month of October. Indoors and outdoors, from Kittery to Hiram.

The idea of a full month of woods-themed events was hatched by the Forest Works! steering committee. It was seen as a forestry version Maine Maple Sunday or Open Farm Day - a fun, outdoorsy thing to do and good PR for woods people. Events would be hosted and organized by individuals and organizations and jointly promoted.

It seems to have taken off. Events proposed so far include sawmill tours, a competitive woods run, a woods/brewery bus tour, walks of many kinds, a Pecha Kucha slideshow, even a mini conference.

For York Land Trust, it's an opportunity to help the public understand that good forest management is not always pretty, explained Joe Anderson, stewardship director for the trust. He's talking about having clearcut patches in the woods to establish the shrub habitat essential for the rare New England cottontail and a host of song birds. "We're pretty proud of it," although the initial appearance was "brutal."

"It's a lot easier to to understand if you can see it in person than have it described or to read about it in book." For Wells Reserve, which is hosting a guided foliage walk with a tree identification expert, it's an opportunity to talk about the link between woods, water and tourism.

"We are excited to participate as we all recognize the important connection between our forests and the clean water in our lakes, rivers, estuaries and beaches that is the basis for our tourist industry here in southern Maine," said Tin Smith, stewardship director at Wells Reserve and a member of the Forest Works! steering committee.

And for folks at Hiram Works, it's an opportunity to showcase their efforts to reinvent a former sawmill complex into an incubator space for wood businesses. A planned mini-conference and woodworkers' fair is part of the business plan to generate economic activity at the sawmill campus, said Daniel Dolgin, owner of the complex of buildings. "For me, this is not non-profit," he said.​You will be hearing a lot more throughout the spring and summer.